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What can I do if an insurance company won’t pay me for my labor?
A driver crashed through a fence on my property and caused extensive damage to my fence, yard, kid’s toys, and more. The estimate to clean up and remove the debris was $1,250 that I could not pay upfront, so I cleaned it up and disposed of the waste on my own. I assumed the insurance company would compensate me for my labor, but they are refusing to pay. Do I have any options?
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m sorry to hear your property was damaged, and I hope everyone is safe! It’s an unfortunate situation to be in, but rest assured; you do have options.
If you feel you are not being treated fairly, you can:
- Contact the insurance agent or company and discuss further
- Request to talk with a manager or executive at the company
- File an appeal
- Seek arbitration or ask a third party, like an ombudsman, to mediate the dispute
- File a complaint with your State Insurance Commissioner
- File a legal claim
While you have options, the insurance company has a solid case not to compensate your time because no agreement was made to have you remove the debris.
In general, you need approval to be compensated for work that the insurance company would have otherwise paid for and the payment amount and method would be agreed upon before performing the labor. Additionally, if you were going to be reimbursed but could not afford to pay for a professional service out of pocket, you should have contacted the insurance company.
Hopefully, the insurance company is understanding, and you both can reach an agreement.
I’m sure this experience has made you realize
car insurance companies
are not always the easiest to work with or understand. If you want someone who can help you understand car insurance, coverage options, and even save you money, download the Jerry
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- Gregory R.
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